Political tensions flared in Abia yesterday as All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders under the Abia Interest Association (ABIA) took a swipe at Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, accusing him of focusing more on foreign engagements than on governance in Abia — the only state controlled by his party.
Led by Eze Chikamnayo, the group urged Obi to “stop gallivanting across countries” and instead hold Governor Alex Otti accountable for alleged mismanagement of funds, including the reported N54 billion meant for education projects.
“You don’t need to go to Indonesia or anywhere in the world,” the group said. “He should ask Otti where the Smart Schools are after spending billions.”
Obi had recently embarked on a five-day visit to Indonesia, where he met with top government officials, including former Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla and Minister Yandri Susanto, to discuss governance strategies in security, education, and poverty reduction.
He praised Indonesia’s economic transformation, contrasting it with Nigeria’s stagnant per capita income.
Meanwhile, political fireworks intensified in Abia as the Liaison Officer at the National Assembly, Iheanyi Chinasa, lashed out at Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, saying he “lacks the capacity and political standing” to challenge Governor Otti in 2027.
Kalu had earlier accused Otti of poor performance during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Abia, claiming the state’s development was not reflective of the funds received.
Otti, through his media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, fired back, describing Kalu’s claims as “bare-faced lies” and alleging that the Deputy Speaker was only seeking the President’s attention.
“Tinubu knows traitors and sycophants when he sees them,” Otti retorted. “He cannot be deceived by lies and incitement.”
Otti further dismissed Kalu’s claim that Abia receives N38 billion monthly, clarifying that the state’s total receipts for 2025 so far stand at N125 billion, including allocations to local councils.